Mark Wright and Michelle 'ignore hate' after home criticism and marriage concern

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Mark Wright and Michelle
Mark Wright and Michelle 'ignore hate' after home criticism and marriage concern

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan slammed criticism of their Christmas home revamp and concerns about their marriage.

The couple are "ignoring the hate" after their festive home makeover sparked cruel comments last week. One follower described their Christmas decorations, including a huge tree, garlands on their staircase, and outdoor light-up reindeer, as "ostentatious". Another criticised them for flaunting their "gifted" decorations when "some people out there can't even pay their electric bills".

In an online video thanking Liverpool-based company 4 Seasons Events LTD for their "Christmas heaven", Mark announced, "Christmas 2023 has begun." Despite the backlash, a source close to the couple said they're "proud" of their £3.5 million Essex mansion and don't feel they should hide their success.

Mark Wright and Michelle 'ignore hate' after home criticism and marriage concern eiqrtietiderinvMichelle and Mark slammed their Christmas criticism (Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)
Mark Wright and Michelle 'ignore hate' after home criticism and marriage concernThe couple have come under fire for their extravagant Christmas decorations in their mansion (Instagram/@wrightyhome)

"They're both very driven people and they work hard," the source said. "That's why they have the most beautiful home and they're proud of it. They don't care about the negative comments they've learnt to ignore the hate."

Married for eight years, Mark, 36, and Michelle, also 36, often find themselves defending their lifestyle and relationship also. In September, former TOWIE star Mark made a cheeky joke about himself and Michelle considering divorce while chatting with Kimberley Walsh on BBC One's Morning Live.

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan share snaps of their new bathroom in £3.5m homeMark Wright and Michelle Keegan share snaps of their new bathroom in £3.5m home

After Kimberley mentioned that September and January are the peak months for couples to split, Mark quipped, "It's the September/January thing that's throwing it for me, I'm like come on October, come on October, I'm still safe." Some fans were worried this might hint at problems in his marriage, but insiders say divorce is the "last thing" on their minds.

"What Mark said about the divorce was just a joke," the source clarified to OK! magazine. "That's just his sense of humour."

"They don't want a divorce at all. They're very much in love. When they're together you can see how much they love each other and how happy they are. But others can't quite get it. Mark's parents are inseparable, but what Mark and Michelle have works for them it's just different."

The pair tied the knot in May 2015 and, two years later, Mark's TV career soared when he became a presenter alongside actor Mario Lopez on the US show Extra. This job had him leaving the UK and living in California for nearly three years. Meanwhile, Michelle stayed in Britain filming Brassic and also spent time in South Africa shooting the BBC drama Our Girl.

Last year, Mark promised to spend more time at home. He even said he had rejected a tempting offer of more work away from home to stay with Michelle. However, this hasn't stopped people accusing the couple of living separate lives. In June, Mark had to respond to fans who kept questioning their long-distance relationship.

"We spend plenty of quality time together and we've had plenty of weekends away," he said. "We have got stuff booked up. We spend quality time together just like any other relationship and I'm not just saying that we genuinely do." He added that he could spend two solid weeks with Michelle at home but "no one will know that because I'm not necessarily posting about it".

Just a month before, it was reported that Michelle, who was born in Stockport, was finding it hard to adjust to living down south. This was said to be causing a "rift" between the couple. "They're under scrutiny the whole time and sometimes feel they can't do anything right," the source continued. "If she goes away for work there's speculation, or if they're together there are comments about how rare it is that they're spending time together."

"Yes, they spend a lot of time apart but Mark knew when he married Michelle that she wanted to work and had a career, and so does he. That's just the nature of the industries they're in." For now, the couple are looking forward to their second Christmas in the dream home they bought back in 2019.

The mansion which took longer to renovate than expected because of Covid-19 restrictions features five bedrooms, a bespoke kitchen, bar, gym, cinema room, sauna and steam room, as well as an outdoor swimming pool. "They've had a bit of a rough time with their house with the builders and everything, but it's looking amazing now and they love it," the source added. "They're going to have a beautiful Christmas there and they're really looking forward to spending more time there in 2024."

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Michelle Keegan cuddles co-star as she shares snaps from BrassicMichelle Keegan cuddles co-star as she shares snaps from Brassic

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